Vice President Election: Process, Quota and Powers
Why in the news
The Prime Minister cast the first vote in the Vice Presidential poll between CP Radhakrishnan and Justice B. Sudershan Reddy.
Election process
- Electoral college: all elected and nominated MPs of both Houses; State Legislatures excluded.
- Each vote equals 1; ballot is pink and bilingual; preferences marked 1, 2, 3.
- Quota: (valid votes ÷ 2) + 1; 391 if 780 MPs vote.
- Single Transferable Vote: if nobody reaches quota, the lowest is eliminated and votes shift by next preference, repeating until quota is crossed.
Constitutional provisions
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| 63 | Office of Vice President, second-highest constitutional post |
| 64 | Ex-officio Rajya Sabha Chairperson; no other office of profit |
| 65 | Acts as President in a vacancy until a new election within 6 months |
Eligibility and office
- Indian citizen, 35 years or older, eligible for Rajya Sabha; no office of profit except as Vice President, Governor or Minister.
- Tenure 5 years, until the successor takes over.
- Removal: Rajya Sabha resolution agreed by Lok Sabha, with 14 days’ notice.
- Votes only to break a tie.
Exam angle
- Minimum age 35; tenure 5 years.
- Unlike the Presidential poll: no weighted votes.